The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-28
correspondence.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULYP
]. @. BARRows.

WHAT ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY?
REST COTTAGE, EVANSTON, May 20, 1887.
To the Editor of The Uniuersalist:
What has become of the Fourth of
July? Once it was sacred to patriotism
now it seems to be given over to pyro-
technics and lager beer. Can the tenn
perance hosts of the Nation, North and
South, do better than to pre-. empt this
Sabbath of the patriot for God and
Home and Native Land?"
If there is doctrine that needs en-
phasis at this mile post of the army's
march it is America for the Americans.
By this 1 mean to hint at no crusade
whatever against our foreign born people,
but to set clearly forth the fact that their
highest good lies in becoming American
just as rapidly as they can. 1t is not be-
cause our country resembles their own
that they have come to us, but precisely
because it is so different from the lands
that have oppressed them. It is not be-
cause our customs, habits and laws are
those to which they have been used, but
because ours are better, nobler and have
set us forward faster than they have pro-
crossed at home, that they have sought
our shores. Every true interest of the
alien lies in ceasing to be an alien and
becoming an American. That we should
bring out into bold relief our national
history, institutions, habits and laws in
the very points where they differ most
widely from those of other countries, is,
believe, desired by all intelligent
foreigners who are most Of all proud that
they are or can become Americans. And
if our forecast of the good time coming
should show that we propose to limit by
law the influx Of European pauper labor
none will rejoice more truly than the
Americanized working man OF foreign
birth.
II we show that true idea of personal
liberty involves the overthrow of the
saloon, the enfranchisement of women
and the cooperative system between
labor and capital, we may win an army
of new adherents as a result OF Fourth
Of July celebration, carefully and wisely
planned. Let me urge our local unions
to think earnestly of this and early to
announce their purpose, seeking the
sympathy of pastors and leaders among
business men that we may avoid rival
celebrations planned later on. Let us
train and drill the Loyal Legions OF boys
and girls to take their part in the process
sion and the program. Anna Gordon's
bright collection of speeches, songs, etc,
for the children Gall in rhyme) will be of
service in this part OF the plan. Extracts
from DIR. Herrick Johnson's personal
Liberty" "a new "Timely Talk" just
issued from the Union Signal Office,
Chicago, as are all the rest referred toy
will make excellent reading; "Voter's
Soliloquy," "On which side are your
and "Fsllscies of High License" will all
furnish material on the temperance ques-
ton. Such tunes as "Marching thro'
Georgia" Maryland, my Maryland" may
be sung to prohibition words, now ready
at our headquarters, and an address by
some clear-hesded speaker should be
announced with special reference to
enlisting the attention of wage workers,
labor organizations, etc. Nothing will
attract more than a program where the
boys march and have military drill, and
where boys and girls have large part in
the exercises. "Where the lambs go the
hocks will follow"
This celebration is especially and most
earnestly commended to the attention of
all our friends in the States where the
Constitutional Prohibitory Amendment
is pending and in Michigan and Ohio
where unsuccessful ca campaigns have
made fresh inspirations important to the
morale Of the temperance army.
With good cheer and growing hope,
Yours in the battle.
FRANCES Z. WILLARD.